Neurológia pre prax 5/2013

Interferon-β biological activity; monitoring of the treatment effect in multiple sclerosis patients in the Czcech republic

Interferons-β are used as a first-line treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis. However, up to half of patients develop neutralising antibodies (NAbs). On long-term follow up, NAbs positive patients show higher disease activity both clinically and on MRI. WHO recommends cythopathogenic effect evaluation as a standard method for Nabs assessment. Especially in high serum titers, NAbs persist for long time periods and significantly lower the biological efficacy of interferons-β. Myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) synthesis is induced exclusively by interferons-β. Therefore, MxA assessment helps to evaluate residual biological activity of interferons-β. The article summarizes the results of NAbs evaluation in the Czech Republic since 2007. Results of patients treated in MS Centre in Motol University Hospital are discussed separately.

Keywords: relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, interferon-β, neutralising antibodies, Myxovirus resistance protein A, MxA induction test.